Job cuts and changes to meal plans to help ease the budget crisis
AUSTIN, TEXAS -- The Texas Department of Criminal Justice plans to save money by cutting 555 non-guard jobs and changing the menu for inmates, by cutting back on dessert and substituting powdered milk. State leaders have demanded immediate budget cuts, to help with the budget shortfall.
The TDCJ says most of the jobs will be administrative and support posts. In a memo Friday, executive director Brad Livingston said 400 administrative and support jobs would be eliminated, and 155 position at Project RIO, which stands for Re-Integration of Offenders.
The Dallas Morning News reports that officials stressed Wednesday that no prison guards or parole officers will be laid off.
Mike Gross of the Texas State Employees Union told the paper, that some of the cuts, such as workers who help inmates nearing their release dates find jobs and parole support staff, would "have a big impact on public safety."
If more released felons can't find work, they'll commit new crimes, Gross said. He said that parole officers "will be having to do more and more (despite) already growing case loads."
The workforce reduction involves some vacant positions, prison system spokeswoman Michelle Lyons told The Dallas Morning News.
Also included in the cuts is restructuring the inmates menu. At all units, inmates will no longer get cartons of milk. Lyons said powdered milk has been used at state jails and transfer facilities since 2003.
Inmates will also be reduced to one desert per inmate per week. They previously received two per week. Cooks will also substitute sliced bread for hamburger and hot dog buns. Offenders at state jails and transfer facilities will also no longer get three meals on the weekend but will instead be served brunch and dinner.
A legislative budget proposal calls for almost 1,600 jobs to be cut in the prison system, which holds almost 156,000 inmates in more than 100 facilities.
